Art

Babies grin gummily, seemingly submerged deep inside inky pools of turquoise. Women lie back in washes of magenta or violet. Then the focus changes as if the lens of a camera has been switched and the

Alla Prima is Italian for “at the first” and in painting terms means completing a painting at once, in a single sitting or session. The overall aim is to capture an immediate impression of the subject

The ‘Pelican’ portrait , attributed to Nicholas Hilliard

What’s a good starting point for painting from life – an entry-level challenge? Painting a plaster cast is a great way to start. They are useful to work with because they don’t move and there are no c

Anita Nowinska found her long-forgotten box of pastels while rummaging through a battered suitcase, using only a candle for light as her power was cut out. “By candlelight I created my first flower pa

Using a painting to envisage a room–or record it for posterity–provides an exciting alternative to digital technology, says Arabella Youens